Common Causes for Premature Concrete Damage

Concrete, like any other surface, gets damaged over time.
Eventually, it wears down, cracks, and breaks apart. This, in itself, is
natural. However, due to concrete’s durability, this shouldn’t happen for a few
decades.

But concrete can be broken down much more quickly than that
due to external forces. Here are some of the most common causes for concrete
damage.

Bad Concrete Job

One of the leading reasons concrete becomes damaged prematurely
is because it wasn’t poured right in the first place. There are a lot of
factors that go into pouring concrete, and when they’re not followed, problems
arise.

If too much water was used in the mix, excess cracks will likely
appear shortly after it dries. This compromises the structural integrity and
leads to early degradation. Cold temperatures can have a negative impact on
concrete pouring as well. While there are ways to lay concrete in cooler
weather conditions, they require special considerations and an extra skillful
hand.

Improper preparation can lead to concrete falling apart as
well. If the ground isn’t level or properly set before the pour, you’ll see problems
sooner rather than later.

Inadequate re-enforcement or control joints are another
cause for concrete problems.

De-Icing Salt

It’s relatively common knowledge that most de-icing
materials are very hard on concrete. While they’re effective at removing the
ice, they may take the surface of your concrete with it. Concrete is porous by
nature. When you put salt on ice and snow, it creates a chemical reaction, causing
it to melt. The melted water then seeps into the surface of the concrete, refreezing
and breaking up the concrete.

A better alternative is to place sand on top of ice. If you must
use salt, try and scoop away the melted ice and snow immediately.

Too Much Weight

When concrete is poured, a certain amount of weight is taken
into account. When this weight limit is exceeded, some serious cracking can
take place. Make sure you account for all of the objects that will be resting
on your concrete floor before it’s poured.

Shifting Foundation

This is something that’s generally out of your control. Ground
shifts over time. Buildings and houses may sink slightly into the earth. All of
this can cause your concrete to break apart. If you find your home is severely shifting,
you may need to take additional action to stabilize the foundation.

Repairing Concrete

Should your concrete start to crack, chip, and break-up
prematurely, you may still be able to save it. Concrete repair can help fix
minor blemishes, preventing further damage while restoring its appearance. For
more present damage, you may want to consider concrete resurfacing. This
involves putting a brand-new surface layer across the concrete floor, leaving
it with a like-new finish for a much more affordable cost.